Start by pulling together your ingredients. If you’re using a whole pork shoulder, cut it into smaller chunks to make grinding easier. If you’re purchasing pre-ground pork, no need to worry! Either way, dice your herbs finely and have your spices at the ready.

In a large bowl, mix together the fresh thyme, sage, crushed red chili flakes, smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. This blend forms the backbone of flavor for your sausage.

Take the pork and add it to the spice mixture. Using your hands, mix everything together until well combined. It’s important not to over-mix, as you want to keep some texture in the meat.

With the mixture ready, it’s time to form your sausage patties. Scoop out a handful of the mixture and shape it into patties. You can make them as thick or as thin as you like, but typically, ¼ inch thick works best for even cooking.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Once hot, place the sausage patties in the pan. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.

As soon as you take these off the heat, you’ll want to enjoy them immediately. Serve them with your favorite breakfast sides or on their own. The aroma in your kitchen will make this step irresistible.